Adams is preparing his team to face his former club in the second round of the FA Cup at Bramall Lane this Saturday, with the League Two side having lost just one of their last 14 games in all competitions.

Collins has thanked Adams for signing him as Blades manager in January 2011, but says he is hoping the Valiants' current good form comes to an end at the weekend.

He told the club's official website: "Unfortunately, things didn't work out for Micky here a couple of seasons ago, but I will always be grateful to him for bringing me to Sheffield United.

"He has proved at Vale Park what a good manager he is and with him being a Unitedite it will be extra special for him coming back.

"He has worked tremendously hard and put some of his own money in so he definitely deserves the success he is enjoying at the present time. But we need to win at the weekend and put ourselves in the hat for the third round."